In our Köln to Munich EV duel, the Aiways U5 beats the BMW i3 42kWh by 40 minutes, completing the 576km route in 5h 57min. The key advantage? 1 fewer charging stop. Route calculated on September 7, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
Despite costing 3,007 less, the Aiways U5 beats the BMW i3 42kWh by 40 minutes on this route.
The Aiways U5 needs only 3 charging stops compared to 4 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
Aiways U5
- Total time: 5h 57min (40 min faster)
- Charging stops: 3
- Charging time: 35min
- Energy: ~108 kWh
- Distance: 576km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
Aiways U5 |
BMW i3 42kWh |
| Travel time |
5h 57min |
6h 37min |
| Charging time: |
35min |
1h 14min |
| Charging stops: |
3 |
4 |
| Energy used |
~104 kWh |
~104 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
Aiways U5 Route
- Start: Köln (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Euro Hotel (15 min, 15% → 53%)
-
Stop 2:
ATU Sigmundstraße (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 3:
Aral Tankstelle Schollstraße (10 min, 10% → 37%)
- Arrival: Munich
BMW i3 42kWh Route
- Start: Köln (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
E.ON Weiskirchen Süd (10 min, 17% → 38%)
-
Stop 2:
Euro Hotel (30 min, 10% → 66%)
-
Stop 3:
Fernmeldeturm (18 min, 10% → 47%)
-
Stop 4:
TotalEnergies Tankstelle (16 min, 10% → 42%)
- Arrival: Munich
Why the Aiways U5 Won
The Aiways U5 achieved a 40-minute advantage over BMW i3 42kWh on this 576km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 3 stops vs 4 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 35min vs 1h 14min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
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